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Business Legal Services
Term Sheets
Negotiate a term sheet that aligns the interests of both you and your investors so that your business will grow and prosper
If you’re an entrepreneur who’s secured venture capital or other investment funding, you’ll want your future relationship with investors to be as positive and productive as possible. Negotiating a term sheet up-front is the best way to achieve that goal, laying the groundwork for the legal documents that follow.
Experts in corporate law
Our team can assist you across all areas of corporate law, including:
Term sheet negotiation to help you get the best from the investment
Our team of corporate solicitors will:
Stand behind you as you negotiate your term sheet and advise you on the implications of the initial terms.
Help you agree the method used to value your business
Looking at the difference between pre-money and post-money valuations.
Help you draft your cap table
So that you have a clear understanding of the impact of the investment on your shareholdings and the effect on your shareholder rights.
Help you choose which employee share schemes to use if you’re planning to set a scheme up in connection with your investment, and advise on how you should deal with this in your term sheet.
Advise you on any liquidation preference your investors may be asking for, and the consequences of agreeing certain preferences.
Explain to you the nuances of term sheet provisions such as participation rights and investor rights, and make sure these are fair to both sides.
Help you have a clear picture of the impact certain term sheet provisions may have
Such as redemption rights, fees, pre-determined milestones for staged funding and allowing investors board representation.
Finalise the term sheet on your behalf.
Clearly explain the next steps following the finalisation of the term sheet.
Understanding term sheets for the benefit of your business interests
If you’re a start-up or early-stage company who has attracted a potential investor, a term sheet will likely be one of the first documents to land on your desk. Working with you to understand what you need to achieve from the proposed investment, we will help you answer the following questions:
- How can I make sure that the term sheet is fair to both sides and that this deal won’t hold my business back in the long run?
- Should I be paying investors fees for their time attending meetings?
- How many board seats is fair for an investor to ask for?
- How much control of the business is it fair for an investor to seek, and are there any restrictions that I shouldn’t accept?
- What conditions are the investors likely to ask for before they commit to funding? How can I make sure these are fair and balanced?
- What do I need to look out for when negotiating a term sheet? Are there any deal-breakers that mean I should walk away from the agreement?
- My investors want certain rights to dividends and to sell back their shares. What can I agree to, and what should I push back on?
- What are appropriate terms relating to confidentiality and timeframes?
Benefits of negotiating a term sheet with a specialist by your side
Get support from expert negotiators
We understand that both founders and investors want to get the best deal possible, but the overall objective should be to help the business to grow. We’ll help make sure the term sheet aligns with the interests of all parties in a way that is not detrimental to the needs of the business.
Improve your access to capital
Investors are often experienced in protecting their interests and know what they’re looking for when negotiating a term sheet. Founders who are backed by an experienced corporate legal team give comfort to potential investors that negotiations will be professional, productive and end in a successful deal, meaning you’ll have a larger pool of potential funders to pick from.
Accelerate growth by picking the right investor
An investor who isn’t the right fit may ask you to sign up to terms that aren’t acceptable. Make sure you give your company the best chance of success by working with investors whose terms are the right fit. An experienced corporate team can also help you understand the shares in the business and how a prospective investment will affect them. An experienced corporate team can advise on the proposed terms and help to determine if the proposed investor is the right one for your business.
Obtain certainty about the reliability of future funding
Term sheets shouldn’t contain terms that make you jump through too many hoops before you unlock the latest tranche of funding. Equally, investors need reassurance that the companies in which they invest are taking proper account of the risks involved as they scale and grow. We can help craft a term sheet that balances each party’s risks and protects their positions.
Who we help: Founders and investors
As an expert commercial and corporate law firm, our solicitors advise boards and company directors, founders, start-ups and early-stage companies, venture capital firms, private equity firms and individual investors in all aspects of funding arrangements. Whether you are an entrepreneur or a potential investor, our experts offer commercially savvy advice and hands-on support at every stage of the funding process.
Testimonials
What our clients say
We use Harper James because they understand the venture capital sector we operate in, know our business inside out and are always on hand to assist us in any way we need.
Doug Scott
CEO,
Potential
Harper James provide a cost effective, responsive and versatile service and provide us with access to legal teams that are experienced, commercially focused and well-resourced. Most importantly they are extremely familiar with the SME market and know the venture capital sector well.
Roger Woods
Owner and Director,
MidVen
What attracted me to Harper James was the pricing model they have in place. It means we get access to top legal professionals at prices we can afford. In our most recent funding round, the support we received was vital.
Mikhil Raja
CEO,
SonicJobs
We’ve been working with the team for over a year and since day one they've been pragmatic, diligent and above all, committed throughout. They work hard to add value and have been of great benefit to us and our investors.
Goncalo de Vasconcelos
CEO,
Syndicate Room
Stephen was very helpful, pragmatic and where appropriate, entertaining. We were grateful for the way Stephen advised us in layman’s terms, showing patience to ensure we understood the transaction and were able to move to completion. I value the relationship we have developed with Harper James over the last few years and would recommend them to others.
Jon Arcos
Founder & CEO,
Axis Spine Technologies
Jas did an excellent job in pulling together what was a complex deal, not least because it involved co-ordinating parties in America, the UK and at the British Business Bank. But her perseverance and willingness to get the job done for us shone through and we were very impressed by the standard of service we received.
Peter Gerwe
Investor,
Storyfirst
Ease of use, a familiar legal team supporting my business who understand my business, and provide value for money.
Daniel Lawrence
CEO,
Bots For That Ltd
I have worked with Callum Giliker on quite a number of corporate fundraising transactions over the last few years and have always found Callum to take a calm, knowledgeable and productive lead, keeping things as simple as possible.
Matthew Dreaper
CFO,
Oxford Space Systems
We use Harper James because they understand the venture capital sector we operate in, know our business inside out and are always on hand to assist us in any way we need.
Doug Scott
CEO,
Potential
Harper James provide a cost effective, responsive and versatile service and provide us with access to legal teams that are experienced, commercially focused and well-resourced. Most importantly they are extremely familiar with the SME market and know the venture capital sector well.
Roger Woods
Owner and Director,
MidVen
What attracted me to Harper James was the pricing model they have in place. It means we get access to top legal professionals at prices we can afford. In our most recent funding round, the support we received was vital.
Mikhil Raja
CEO,
SonicJobs
We’ve been working with the team for over a year and since day one they've been pragmatic, diligent and above all, committed throughout. They work hard to add value and have been of great benefit to us and our investors.
Goncalo de Vasconcelos
CEO,
Syndicate Room
Stephen was very helpful, pragmatic and where appropriate, entertaining. We were grateful for the way Stephen advised us in layman’s terms, showing patience to ensure we understood the transaction and were able to move to completion. I value the relationship we have developed with Harper James over the last few years and would recommend them to others.
Jon Arcos
Founder & CEO,
Axis Spine Technologies
Jas did an excellent job in pulling together what was a complex deal, not least because it involved co-ordinating parties in America, the UK and at the British Business Bank. But her perseverance and willingness to get the job done for us shone through and we were very impressed by the standard of service we received.
Peter Gerwe
Investor,
Storyfirst
Ease of use, a familiar legal team supporting my business who understand my business, and provide value for money.
Daniel Lawrence
CEO,
Bots For That Ltd
I have worked with Callum Giliker on quite a number of corporate fundraising transactions over the last few years and have always found Callum to take a calm, knowledgeable and productive lead, keeping things as simple as possible.
Matthew Dreaper
CFO,
Oxford Space Systems
Why choose Harper James Solicitors?
We’re a modern law firm with a difference. Our innovative remote operating model means that you can swiftly access expert City-grade legal advice from partner-level solicitors at a fraction of the cost of traditional law firms. With a cost-effective legal subscription plan, our aim is to make it easier for start-ups to access the expert legal support necessary to develop.
Whatever stage you’re at, we can support you with drafting contracts, protecting your intellectual property, and producing vital employment policies and procedures. Challenges may arise, but we can assist you at every step. Plus, our senior solicitors have all been recruited from top 100 UK law firms or large international businesses so you can remain confident in the expertise you’re provided. Find out more about the corporate team here:
Pricing and service plans
Legal support designed
to fit your business needs
Our three transparent service plans are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
Engage
Flexible access to senior solicitors at highly competitive rates
An alternative to our subscription plans, offering access to full service legal expertise on a project-by-project basis.
Enable
Purpose built legal support for start-ups and smaller businesses
Monthly subscription plan for £219 per month, with £149 monthly credit and access to all legal services at 50% discount on our Standard Rates.
Extend
Comprehensive legal partnership for established businesses
Fully account managed and scalable annual subscription plan with support from a curated team of partners and senior solicitors, with up to 36% discount on our Standard Rates.